Publication | Open Access
Growth Responses of Young Peach Trees and Changes in Soil Characteristics with Sod and Conventional Planting Systems
20
Citations
0
References
1988
Year
Plant-soil InteractionEngineeringBotanyYoung Peach TreesCrop ProtectionAgricultural EconomicsSoil Management SystemsSoil ManagementHorticultural ScienceSoil StructureGrowth ResponsesConventional Planting SystemsCompanion StudyPost-harvest PhysiologyHorticultural PlantTree GrowthPlant PhysiologyDeforestation
Abstract Peach [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] trees were planted in four soil management systems (cultivated, herbicide, mowed sod, and killed sod) in 1982 and grown through 1984. A companion study was established in 1984 with three systems (cultivated, herbicide, and killed sod). Tree growth and fruit yield were greatest when trees were planted and managed in a killed sod system. Establishing a living sod before planting the trees, and then killing the sod with herbicides, prevented the depletion of soil organic matter and increased water infiltration rates, aggregate stability, macroporosity, and microbial respiration rates compared to conventional systems. The changes in soil structure persisted for 2 to 3 years.